BiometricsThe big biometric hitters
Five companies are in the lead in the competition for a share of the U.S. government biometric market; they have plowed money — a lot of money — into their lobbying activities, and some hope to strengthen their hand by hiring former administration officials
The following five companies are leading identity-solutions contractors for various programs by federal, state, and local governments in the United States, according to GovExec:
Lockheed Martin
Business: Identity-solutions systems integration
Contracts: Justice Department next-generation identification systems; DHS Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program; Registered Traveler
Power play: More than $10 million in lobbying activity in 2007
L-1 Identity Solutions
Business: Identity-solutions systems integration; multimodal biometrics
Contracts: Defense Department and intelligence biometrics; passports; secure documents
Power play: Board members include former CIA director George Tenet and former DHS deputy secretary James Loy
Digimarc
Business: Driver’s licenses; secure documents
Contracts: State enhanced driver’s licenses; Real ID
Power play: Plans to merge with L-1 Identity Solutions
Cross Match Technologies
Business: Multimodal biometrics
Contracts: Defense Department biometrics
Power play: Hired James Ziglar, former INS commissioner, as president and CEO
Cogent Systems
Business: Fingerprint and palm biometrics
Contracts: US-VISIT; federal, state, and local law enforcement
Power play: Flies under the radar
Sources: National Journal; Center for Responsive Politics
